LC and mood

[Martin Barrett]

I sometimes see LC associated with low seratonin,
and consequently can affect mood.

Anyone had any really bad mood experiences on LC
and how to fix?

For me, if I raise carbs slightly, maybe by adding a few berries for
example, I am a bit better.

If I stay down at 20g carbs a day I do tend to feel a bit short tempered
and on edge.

Any other ideas?

Thanks
Martin

[Martin Barrett]

Susan wrote:
>
> I became totally immobilized by depression years ago when I dropped to
> Atkins induction levels. The cause was the drop in T3, active thyroid
> hormone, that very low carb and/or very low calorie diets both cause.
>
> Susan

That's interesting - to fix, did you stop low carbing,
or take a t3 supplement?

[Doug Freyburger]

Martin Barrett > wrote:
>
> I sometimes see LC associated with low seratonin,
> and consequently can affect mood.

When it comes to seratonin interactions Susan is the
expert in these parts.

> Anyone had any really bad mood experiences on LC
> and how to fix?

There's another hormone in the cycle - adrenelin. It is
released from dropping blood sugar levels so the early
days of low carb can trigger its release and cause
jitteriness. It's one among many hormones really,
just one that has a large impact on mood. This effect
of jitteriness should pass as blood sugar levels settle
into a stable pattern, but ...

> For me, if I raise carbs slightly, maybe by adding a few berries for
> example, I am a bit better.

.... but settling into a stable pattern means not fighting
that process. This is why the Atkins carb ladder starts
out listing foods with lower glycemic load than that.
The Atkins carb ladder lists more low carb veggies and
nuts before berries. Those should be tried first. To not
fight the natural process of blood sugar level stabilization.

> If I stay down at 20g carbs a day I do tend to feel a bit short tempered
> and on edge.
>
> Any other ideas?

If you read the Atkins book for what to actually do, Induction
lasts 14 days. Some folks want to dive face first into the
obvious idea that if low carb is good then lower must be
better and if Induction for 14 days is good then Induction
longer must be better.

The thing is obvious does not equal true. There's a long list of
reasons why 14 days is the default length for Induction and
this is simply one reason among many.

If there's a problem with staying at 20, then don't. Staying at
20 is a listed option, but it is not the default design of the plan.
Fourteen days of Induction then move into OWL to find your
CCLL is the default plan. Doing that is pretty simple when it
comes down to it, but there is a ton of resistance to doing
that because it's not obvious.

Step out in faith by following the directions not by looking for
permission to stay low longer.